President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has dissented from the Private Members Bill the Political Parties (Amendment), which empowers the State to, on quarterly basis, provide funds to a political party represented in the National Assembly, to cater for that political party’s day-to-day activities, including election expenses where appropriate.
In a statement signed by statehouse press secretary Anthony Kasunda, the president has also assented Bill No. 21 of 2023: Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security (Amendment) together with eight others.
The Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Bill provides for a comprehensive legal framework for regulation of the processing and movement of personal data of natural persons, in compliance with internationally accepted principles of data protection.
The bills which the president has assented are: Bill No. 20 of 2023: Ombudsman Amendment which seeks to free the Office of the Ombudsman from any form of interference , Bill No. 22 of 2023: Data Protection which seeks to provide for a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation of the processing and transfer of personal data, in compliance with internationally accepted principles of data protection, Bill No. 23 of 2023: Persons with Disabilities, Bill No. 24 of 2023 which has repealed the Disability Act of 2012 and the Handicapped Persons Act of 1971, regulating all matters regarding persons with disabilities in Malawi.
Tobacco Industry, Bill No. 25 of 2023 which has a comprehensive legal framework for Malawi’s tobacco industry: investment and Export Promotion, Bill No. 26 of 2023 makes a provision for the enhancement of the facilitation and promotion of investment and exports in Malawi: International Arbitration, Bill No. 27 of 2023: Special Economic Zones which provides for the declaration, designation, development, promotion, operation and regulation of SEZs in Malawi and Bill No. 29 to 2023: Appropriation (Amendment).
Reported by Alinafe Mlamba.